Just as in the fictional town in North Carolina where the long-running "Andy Griffith Show" was set, neighbors help neighbors in the Champaign County village of 1,600 people where few have met a stranger.

“We have a very similar community,” resident Stan Oliver said.

It's one reason that Oliver, 47, thought it would be appropriate to invite the daughter of actor Don Knotts — known for his iconic "Andy Griffith" role as Deputy Sheriff Barney Fife — to town on Saturday. The show, which Karen Knotts performed at a discounted fee, benefited the village police department.

With as many as 500 people in attendance at Mechanicburg High School, Karen Knotts performed "A Deputy's Daughter," a show in which she shares personal stories about her father, who died in 2006 of lung cancer at 81. The show is similar to Knotts' "Tied up in Knotts," a one-woman theatrical performance in which she acts out characters from her life as well as her father's.

“I continually hear from people about how important the ("Andy Griffith") show is to them and that they continue to watch it daily,” said Knotts, 63, who works in theater and stand-up comedy in Glendale, California. “I find that, for small towns in cities across the country, my show gives them a feeling of connectedness.”

The Mechanicsburg ticket sales and a raffle helped raise money for the police K-9 Unit. Sgt. Nickolous Black said the event helped the department surpass its $19,000 fundraising goal to help deploy the department's first full-time police dog.

Max, a 2-year-old German shepherd, is expected to receive his certification in May after he completes his training, said Black, who volunteered his off-duty time to train with the dog and will be Max's handler. The dual-purpose K-9, who will serve all of Champaign County, can both detect illegal drugs and track and apprehend suspects.

Knotts offered personal anecdotes about her father, followed by a question-and-answer session. "The Mayberry Deputy" (aka David Browning), a Barney Fife impersonator of national renown, also appeared and Muleskinner’s Band performed music from the TV show.

Knotts, the younger of two children of Don Knotts and Kathryn Metz, said she enjoys the chance to share what her father was really like.

“He was marvelous," she said. "He was a wonderful father, and he was very practical as a dad."